Smoking + RA With Obstructive Pattern Shows Less Spirometry Decline
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, June 25, 2024 -- Patients who have smoked with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an obstructive pattern may be a unique phenotype, according to a study published online June 17 in RMD Open.
Keigo Hayashi, M.P.H., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues compared longitudinal changes in spirometric measures over five to seven years between 233 patients with RA and 37,735 non-RA comparators.
The researchers found that among never-smoking participants without an obstructive pattern, RA was significantly associated with more decline in annual changes in the percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 percent; β =−0.49). In ever smokers with ≥10 pack-years, those with RA exhibited significantly less FEV1 percent decline than non-RA comparators (β = 0.50). A more pronounced difference was seen among those with an obstructive pattern at baseline (β = 1.12). Similar results were seen for FEV1/ forced vital capacity (FVC) decline. There was no difference in the annual FVC percent change in RA versus non-RA.
"Further studies are required to explore the mechanisms and potential reversibility of systemic inflammation, autoimmunity and the impact of RA treatments on pulmonary function," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2024
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